Frozen (2010) *** out of *****

Director/Writer:  Adam Green
Cast:  Emma Bell, Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers

What sacrifices would you make, what risks would you take, if you were trapped in a desperate life or death situation?  The concept is by no means new.  What makes "Frozen" (from director Adam Green, responsible for 2006's ever so mediocre "Hatchet," which has a sequel hitting theaters this month) entertaining is the simplicity of the situation.  3 twenty-something college students skimp out on paying full price for ski lift tickets, get trapped mid rotation as the resort is closing, and with the knowledge that the mountain will be closed for 5 days, try to fight for their survival.
With "Frozen," the movies biggest fault is how absolutely safe it plays out, to a point in which it's somewhat predictable.  The cliched mechanics displayed here have been used a thousand times before, and the way in which the characters are treated, make it fairly obvious who is going to live or die.  Given the type of feature this is, it is forgivable, in that it's quite apparent that the director only intended on delivering an hour and a half long nail biter, and not set some new standard for film making or the industry.
And it's not to say the flick isn't worth a watch, but I'd mostly recommend it more for people who are somewhat new to the horror genre, or just want to watch an above average thriller.  The setup to the groups impending isolation is a bit preposterous but suites the story's setup, the acting is adequate (by players you won't immediately recognize) and the characters are likable, the score is effective at setting pace and atmosphere (minus the shitty pop rock track used in the opening sequence), and there are some truly tense moments to be found within this picture...just don't expect anything ground breaking or original.